Apparatus for applying terminals by crimping and severing lead terminal from connecting strip without severing said strip



Aug. 4, 1959 Q. BERG 2,897,870

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINALS BY CRIMPING AND sEvER Nc LEAD TERMINAL FROM CONNECTING STRIP WITHOUT SEVERING SAID STRIP Filed May 7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l 34 I 60 O O4Z i 122 I I 52 i 2 I00 U ez as a INVENTOR. Que/v TIN BERG v A rroe/v Q. BERG 2,897,870

TERMINALS BY CRIMPING A Aug. 4, 1 959 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ND SEVERING LEAD TERMINAL FROM CONNECTING STRIP WITHOUT SEVERING SAID STRIP Filed May 7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEU QUENTIN BERG Q we .JQPL. P4

.w rhwl Aug. 4, Q. BERG APPARATUS APPLYING TERMINALS CRIMPING AND SEVER STRIP ING AD TERMINAL FROM CON TING WITHOUT SEVERING SAID STRIP Filed May '7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 74,-: IEILE=5 (-42 INVENTOR.

QUENTIN BERG wa r BY/ZJW United States Patent APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TERMINALS BY CRIMPING AND SEVERING LEAD TERMINAL FROM CONNECTING STRIP WITHOUT SEVER- ING SAID STRIP Quentin Berg, New Cumberland, Pa.

Application May 7, 1956, Serial No. 582,993

3 Claims. (Cl. 153-1) This invention relates to apparatus for applying terminals and has particular reference to a novel and efficient machine for applying partially preformed wrap around type of terminals in strip form to a conductor and severing such terminals from the strip. The invention is particularly concerned with the application of terminal elements of this type in which such elements are disposed in parallel and each integrally connected at one end thereof in close-coupled arrangement to a connecting strip, and where the final shape of the terminal element is such that the conductor to which it is secured is disposed in overlapping relation with the connecting strip,

which connects a series of terminal elements in strip nals are applied to a conductor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved machine for applying strip terminals to conductors and severing the terminals from the strip wherein the conductors to which the terminals are applied are disposed in overlapping relation with the connecting strip to which the terminal elements are secured. Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets, which by way of illustration show a preferred embodiment of the invention and what I now consider to :be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention. Other embodiments of the invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a press type of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an electrical component including conductors, to the ends of which a wraparound type of terminal element has been secured;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a strip of terminal elements of the type with which the apparatus herein disclosed and claimed is particularly useful;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the relationship of the dies, the lead terminal element, and the conductor to which it is' to be applied, at the beginning of a cycle;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the relationship of the parts after the lead terminal has been U 2,897,870 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 2 applied to the end of the conductor and severed from its connecting strip;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line'7-7 vof Fig. 5; i

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a partially preformed terminal element as it is supplied to the applicator; and

V Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of an applied terminal element.

The apparatus is particularly adapted for afliixng terminal elements to electrical components, such asillustrated in Fig. 2, which may consist of an electrical condenser or resistance 10 having conductors. 12 and 14 projecting from the ends thereof. As shown in Fig. 2, the free ends of the conductors 12 and 14 have terminals or terminal elements 16 secured thereto. The apparatus as illustrated is adapted to atfix elements 16, one at a time, to the end of a conductor such as 12, although it will be appreciated that by duplication of the apparatus illustrated a terminal 16 may be applied to the free ends of each of the conductors 12 and 14 simultaneously. Furthermore, as illustrated, no feed mechanism is shown for feeding the conductors in position to have the terminals applied thereto as such is not a part of the present invention, although in an applicator embodying the invention which has been built and installed, a feed mechanism was provided for automatically feeding the electrical components to the applicator in timed relation with the operation of the applicator.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 9, the terminals 16, with which the apparatus as illustrated is particularly concerned, are partially preformed, disposed in parallel, and each integrally connected at the conductor projecting end 18 by a portion 20 in close-coupled arrangement to a connecting strip 22. The elements 16 in partially preformed condition as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are channelshaped and somewhat conical in form, the sides 24 being in the form of upstanding wings which define an open top side to the element.

To aid in securing the end of the conductor 12 in the element 16, the inside of the element is provided with transverse grooves which are formed by a coining operation, the grooves 26 forming shoulders which are forced into the conductor 12 so as to resist axial separation of the conductor 12 from the terminal 16. The terminal 16 and the conductors 12' may be formed of copper, brass, or any other suitable material. The apparatus illustrated is of the press type which includes a stationary die block 30 and a movable die block 32 mounted for movement toward and away from each other, the upper die block 32 in this case being reciprocatably mounted for movement toward and away from the lower die block 30 and a series of guides, such as 34, being provided for maintaining the die blocks 30 and 32 in proper relationship. The die blocks 30 and 32 are mounted on a conventional type of power operated reciprocating press.

The apparatus in general comprises a feed indicated generally at 36, a guide indicated generally at 38, a stationary anvil or die indicated generally at 40, a reciprocating crimping die indicated generally at 42, and a cutoff which is provided by a cutting edge 44 formed on the anvil 40 and a cooperable cutting edge 46 formed on part 84 of the guide 38 (Figs. 5 and 6).

The anvil 40 as illustrated is afiixed to the stationary die block 30 while the crimping die 42 is mounted upon the upper die block 32 for reciprocation therewith. The anvil 40 and crimping die are shown in their closed position in Figs. 4, 6 and 8, and in their open position in Fig. 5.

3,. Aspreviously indicated, the. terminals. are. fed. in. strip form to the apparatus, a strip-of the terminals being indicated at 50. The feed mechanism for advancing the strip SU of terminals-so as t'o'l dispose the lead. terminalieler ment in crimping position with respect: to the: anvil; 40? and th die- '42 'consis'ts of 'an arm- 52 pivoted at 54 and provided with a roller 56 adapted to rolluponahe-surface Gfi-tliB cam SS carriedby theupper die block '32. The arm 52 is biased in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot-byaspring 60- which is disposed around bolt 62 and confined between fixedstop 64 and. a head 66 which includes a roller 68 which is adapted to bear againstone end of a feed finger 7-0';.th'e feed. finger "7 beingpivoted at 72 to the arm 52 and having an end.74'which=is' engageable 'with-theelem'ents16 of the strip 50 upon reciprocationof theifeedmechanism'for' advancing the :elements 16 ofi'the' strip Silone by one'so as to dispose. the lead element thereof in operative'position' with respect to the top-surface-76 of the anvil 40. The strip 50 is'supplied from a reel" (notshown) of terminals in strip form.

A-spring: 80 connected with the finger 70 and the arm 52 biases the end 74 of the feed finger 70 into position to operativel'y engage the elements 16 for feeding the same forward. As the press opens, that is, as the upper dieblock 32 moves away from the lower die block 30, the r'oller56following the cam 58 under the influence of spring 60 will move the feed. finger 7 0 forward sufiiciently to position-thelead terminal'lfiof the strip 50 on the upper'surface of the anvil 40'and on the down stroke of the press thefeed'finger 70 will be retracted so as to'engage the next' element 16. On thesucceeding upstroke of the press, the lead t'erminal will be-fed to a position for operation-upon by'the anvil 40 and the crimping die-42;

The guide 38 as illustrated comprises parts 82 and 84 whichare constructed and assembled so as to define a longitudinal 'L-shapedfeed channel indicated generally at 86'=, -Fig. 5. The portion 88 of the channel is adapted to guidetheconnectingstrip 22, while the enlarged central partof the channel is adapted to accommodate the terminals-16. The guide 38 is pivoted at 90 to a fixed part of the lower die block 30. A spring 92 biases the guide 38 to the position as shown in Fig. 5. The guide '38 is provided with an opening 94- which intersects the channel 86. The upper end of the anvil 40 is disposed in the opening 94 so that the lead terminal 16 may be positioned thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 5, with the connecting'st'rip -22ioverhanging the'anvil 40. The part 84 is providedwithan exposed groove or slot 96 which forms a 'm'eansfor locating the end of the conductor 12 in position for-application of the lead terminal thereto with the conductor 12 disposed in overlapping relation with re spect-to the connecting strip 22 underlying part 84, and witlrthe lead terminal 16 disposed between the anvil 40 and theen'd-of-theconductor 12, and with the open side of' theleadlterminal facing the conductor 12 and the crimping die 42;

bracket-'98 carried bythe die block 30 is provided at-its upper end'with a groove or notch 100 (Fig. 1) whichis aligned with the notch-96 when the guide38 is in'its'upper position and which forms a part of the means for locating the end of the conductor 12 for the application of the terminal 16 thereto. As previously indicated, suitable automatic mechanism may be provided for automatically feeding thecomponents to the apparatus for fapplication of the terminals 16 to the ends of the conductors thereof. "With the guide 38' in its upper position the. press. alsov causes the. guide. 38. to move downwardly, against the spring 92. As the die 42 moves downwardly, the bifurcations 104 thereof straddle the terminal 16 and the anvil 40 and engage the sides of.the terminal and force the same around the conductor 12 so as to secure and crimp the terminal 1'6jto5the conductor 12, the terminal. 16 and/or conductor 12 in the process beingdeformed'by cold flow of 'the metal as shown inFig.:8.'

the end of the conductor 12' is'positioned inline with and abovetheopen side of the terminal 16, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Upon the closing of the press, the crimping die '42" first seats theicond'uctor 12 in the terminal 16 and then "securesthe terminal 16 around' the conductor 12. To this endthedie42' is provided with a'tongue or punch which upon the closingof the pressengages the end bf the-conductor "12"arid moves it downwardly'intothe terminal 16 through the open side thereof. Closing of As die'42 movesrdownwardly, the end 106-of a bifurcation 104, or'a part movable therewith, engagesa part. of the guide 38 and moves the same downwardly, thereby causing the cuttinged'ges 46-and 44 to shear'the connecting portion. 20 ofthe-terminal strip, for severingthe lead terminal 16 from the connecting strip 22. The crimping die 42 is formed so-that it will cooperate with the anvil 40 to crimp the terminal 16 onto the conductor 12. Upon the upstroke of the press, the die 42 is separated from the lead terminal 16- Whichis now' separatedIfrom theeonnectingstrip 22, and the lead terminal may then .be removed from the anvil 40, and as previously indicated; the feed mechanism on the upstroke will movethe next succeeding lead terminal 16 into position on the anvil 40'for'the next. operation. The connecting strip 22, devoid of terminals, is. discharged from the end of the guide 38.

The apparatus may be provided with a stripper 1 20 (Fig. 4) positioned adjacent the crimping die 42 for stripping the terminal 16. from the crimping die42- after assembly, of such terminal to the conductor if the terminal tendsto stick in the crimping die upon the retractile stroke thereof.

By wrap-around; type of terminals, I have reference to terminals in. which one vor more integral portions thereof are: bent around or. positioned so as to grip an insulated or uninsulated conductor so as to connect the terminal tothe condu'cton. the. specific terminal illustrated being by way of example. This may include, as here, cold flowing the. terminal so as to exceed the elastic limit of theterminal material. Theextent to which such termi nals are preformed before being supplied tov the appli cator may vary, and I contemplate that. thepreforming operations may, if desired, be performed in the press illustrated by providing the same with suitable dies-ahead of. the crimping dies 40 and 42.

Theconnecting strip 22 after being discharged from the guide 38. may be fed to a cutter indicated generally -at.122 for cutting the strip 22 into small pieces. The cutter consists of a cutting edge 124 carried by and movable'with the upper die block 32 and a cutter 126 mounted on the lower die block 30.

I WhileI have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of'my invention, it is understood that 'this'i's capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to .availimyself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. Apparatus for applying wrap-around type of terminal elements having an open side to conductors wherein the: terminal elements are disposed in parallel and each integrally connected at one end thereof in close-coupled arrangement to one side of a connecting strip; said apparatus comprising a stationary anvil, means for feeding a strip of such terminal elements in a path leading to said anvil so that such connecting strip is disposed laterally of and passes to one side of said anvil and the lead terminal element is positioned on said anvil and projects laterally therefrom i'n overlapping relation with respect'to' said anvil, with the anvil backing up such lead terminal and with-the open side of said terminal facing away from said anvil, guide means engageable with a conductor, which extends across said path and connecting strip, so as toleave'theend of such conductor free and' projecting in the' 'sarrre direction-as said lead terminal and maligned overlapping relation with respect thereto, said guide means locating such free end of the conductor in position for application of said lead terminal thereto with the conductor disposed in overlapping transverse relation with respect to said connecting strip and with the lead termi* nal disposed between said anvil and said conductor and with the open side of said lead terminal facing and aligned with the free end of said conductor, a crimping die disposed opposite said anvil and cooperable therewith by movement toward the same for crimping said terminal on the free end of said conductor, said crimping die and anvil being offset laterally of and out of alignment with the path of movement of said connecting strip, said die being engageable with the sides of said terminal element for crimping the same around the end of said conductor, and a cutofl operable by movement of said crimping die for severing said lead terminal from said connecting strip without severing said connecting strip, said crimping die engaging and holding said leadlterminal on said anvil from a time prior to severing of such terminal from said strip until completion of the crimping operation.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said crimping die includes a tongue engageable with the free end of said conductor for moving the same therewith toward said anvil, and into said terminal element through the open side thereof and for seating and holding such free end in said terminal during the crimping operation.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cutofi comprises cooperable cutting edges on said stationary anvil and said guide means disposed laterally of and out of alignment with the path of movement of said connecting strip, said cutting edge on said guide means being movable when the lead terminal is applied to said conductor for cooperation with the cutting edge on said anvil for severing the lead terminal from said connecting strip, said guide means being interposed between said connecting strip and said conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,024,416 Allison Dec. 17, 1935 2,318,508 Martindell May 4, 1943 2,534,867 Hennssey Dec. 19, 1950 2,567,155 Macy Sept. 4, 1951 2,692,384 Pollock Oct. 26, 1954 2,704,358 Wells Mar. 15, 1955 2,732,615 Sandberg Jan. 31, 1956 2,760,195 Berg Aug. 28, 1956 2,812,676 Brown Nov. 12, 1957 

